Projects we are supporting include: Northern Ireland Children’s Enterprise - NICE - which assists young people, parents and families, Catholics and Protestants, in strife-torn areas of Belfast by providing a place where those young people can meet to reconcile their often violent situations. In recognition of our support, NICE has named its facility in Belfast “Australia House”.

NICE continues to provide a very important first point of contact for many young Catholics and Protestants. Recent statistics showed that seventy nine percent of the young people with whom NICE works had never met a Catholic or Protestant before doing so through NICE. It is important that their work in reconciliation continues to grow, so that intimidation and sectarianism are not experienced by future generations of people in Northern Ireland.

The Chair of Modern Irish Studies at the University of New South Wales, gives something back to the Australian community and promotes peace in a wider context.

174 Trust was established in 1982 by a group of concerned Christians including members of two local churches, Duncairn Presbyterian and Antrim Road Baptist. Premises at 174/176 Antrim Road, Belfast were purchased and became the focus of a work dedicated to tackling many of the problems confronting the local community and addressing the real needs of those living in a materially and socially disadvantaged area.

Since 1991 The Speedwell Trust has been bringing together Catholic and Protestant children, schools and their communities to develop mutual respect and understanding. They work through the medium of Environmental Education, learning to respect each other and the world we share. Speedwell is based in Mid-Ulster, in a region known as the Murder Triangle and cares for children from communities which are bitterly divided by sectarian violence and distrust. At Speedwell these children are given the opportunity to work together and develop friendships.

The Reach Foundation, run by Sharon and Jim Stynes, a Dublin born Melbourne based Australian Football Rules celebrity player. Reach encourages young people who have been through traumatic experiences to believe “that no matter what you can achieve your dreams”. Reach does this by helping young people to build self-esteem and discover purpose in their lives, in safe places where trust, openness and creative expression are encouraged.

Reach and the Australian Ireland Fund joined forces to send two young adults to Northern Ireland to experience life over there and interact with locals, to bring that experience back to Melbourne and communicate it. Students Emeli Paulo and Jonathan Moore were hosted by Ms. Angila Chadda of Springboard, in Belfast during September and October 2002.

In support of this initiative, leading Australian industrialist, Mr. Richard Pratt A.C., has agreed to fund four young students to travel from Northern Ireland to Melbourne in 2003. Two students already visited in April, Anthony Clarke and Kenneth Luke. We are sure this is the beginning of a wonderful exchange of young leaders in Australia and Northern Ireland who have so much to offer their communities.

Habitat for Humanity is a cross-community Christian self build housing charity helping low income families build and purchase their own homes at a price they can afford. Through the “building communities without fear” programme, volunteers from both communities and families in need are brought together to build houses. With grass roots support and commitment, the programme creates opportunities for small but significant steps towards co-existence and ultimately reconciliation. Having completed more than 20 homes in Irish Close, Catholic West Belfast, and Glencairn, Protestant West Belfast, Habitat are currently developing projects in Downpatrick, Ballymena and Dublin alongside North Belfast. We are assisting Habitat to develop its integrated cross community project in the Ligoniel / Ballysillan area of North Belfast

Rock Challenge is a drug and crime prevention vehicle in the form of a performing arts competition for secondary schools. The focus of this friendly and vibrant competition is on young people leading healthy life styles and being their best without the need for tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. The Rock Challenge is an effective means through which agencies having an interest in community safety and wellbeing can fulfil their responsibilities.

The event has been established in the UK since 1996 and at that time involved 11 schools with 800 participants at Portsmouth. It has grown to the extent that in 2002, 12,000 students from 144 schools took part in 21 events throughout England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Kabosh, established in 1994, is a professional all Ireland touring theatre company based in Belfast. The Alien National programme is a creative outreach and access initiative, which brings together school age children 12 – 16 across Ireland using drama to explore mutual understanding of cultural difference, whilst developing skills.

Over the past seven years the company has performed to 194,000 audience members having produced some 20 productions and just over 702 performances across Ireland.

Benefits to the community: Kabosh has initiated some 240 workshops so just under 6,000 people as part of varied outreach programmes. This work is aimed at extending drama into the community and allowing the arts to connect with groups of people who rarely have the opportunity to partake in them.

Soundhouse We also fund Soundhouse, a Melbourne initiative.

Soundhouse Outreach kits have been placed in The Nerve Centre in Derry in Northern Ireland. The aim is to link Australian and Irish children creating music and communicating via the web. We thank Martin Carlson, the energy behind Soundhouse, for his efforts in creating these links.

The Outreach kit, a plug and play Soundhouse in a box, allows children and adults to compose and create music and communicate using contemporary technology however isolated they may be.

Initially the Outreach kits were created for those too geographically removed to visit a Soundhouse, or for whom travel can be difficult or expensive.

The Nerve Centre is a multi-media arts centre dedicated to the development of the creative industries in Northern Ireland. The Centre was established through a partnership between the North West Musicians Collective and the Inner City trust ­ two community based organisations in the city involved in the education and training of young people.

This community partnership developed the Nerve Centre over a ten-year period, which culminated with the opening of a new purpose built centre just a few months before the millennium. Situated within the walled city of Derry, the Nerve Centre is the driving force behind the city's vibrant youth centre.

AIF/Springboard Millennium Ventures programme in Belfast. 50 people have completed this 3 year programme, the objectives of which are: To increase the knowledge and awareness of individuals and communities on specific issues or topics, leading to exchange and implementation of good practice; To enhance the skills and capacity of individuals to contribute to the wellbeing of communities, and: To promote understanding and exchange between Catholics and Protestants.

REACT was established in November 1998. REACT facilitates and manages a range of community based initiatives:- 1) Don’t Blow it- a community approach to drug and alcohol related life involving focus groups who develop action plans and an accredited counselling centre. 2) Spice Tree – a lifestyle restaurant and shared space in Kilkeel. 3) A range of partnership projects with local post primary schools, amateur dramatics, training and employment etc

Kilkeel is a deeply divided town and REACT is the first integrated, sustainable group in the town. Other community organizations exist and thrive but are specifically interested in a part of community life. REACT seeks to address issues of building trust, developing respect for difference and moving on to a redefinition of a social, economic and cultural society. They believe this can only be achieved by building bricks of participation and integration. REACT is supported by a wide range of existing community / statutory bodies.

All Children’s Integrated Primary School. This integrated primary school was established in 1986. It educates children from Catholic, Protestant, other faiths and none, side by side in the classroom. The school welcomes diversity and celebrates respect for difference on a daily basis.

As an integrated school there is very close involvement with parents, volunteers and the local community. The school has been instrumental in developing respect and promoting friendships across the divide.

The school services a predominately rural area with isolated pockets of Protestant and Catholic communities. While this is a one off application, the school feels if it is successful it will help promote an image of excellence for the school which will be beneficial in assisting the school to access other sources of funding as well as securing greater enrolment numbers.

Workforce Training Services in Belfast works with young people who are most marginalised in terms of education, social skills development and disadvantage. Workforce currently provides job skills and new deal training for over 300 people, mainly drawn from West and North Belfast.

The Australian Special Olympics Team to participate in Ireland in 2003.